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Nike Mercurial Superfly III Safari Review

Thanks to the team over at WeGotSoccer.com for sending these out for a review. For testing I wore a 10US, 6-8 training sessions, and played 2 games in them. First off the black and volt combination looks great on the pitch and the volt Nike swoosh along with the instep pattern really stand out!

Superfly II vs Superfly III

There are a few changes between the two releases. The toe box is now lower on the Superfly III, which allows for better ball contact, the Teijen upper is softer, soleplate is now filled (colored), Flywire extends to the back of the heel, and the instep is exclusive to the CR7 Safari's and NikeiD Superfly III boots.

Performance

At 7.8oz they feel light and responsive. The upper is stiff so giving them a proper break in period will be needed. The Superfly III excelled in the sprinting and turning drills. When it comes to passing the Superfly III gives a great overall ball touch. You can continually strike the ball without any discomfort due to the upper and cushioning behind the tongue. I took many lace shots to find out whether my mid foot would feel some discomfort but that was not the case, the cushioning behind the tongue is very helpful! While sprinting and making some sharp turns I experienced minimal slipping.

Fit/Comfort

These fit a lot better thanks to the softer upper and lower toe box. The softer upper will decrease the amount of time needed to break these boots in and the lower toe box will provide you with more room in the toe area. Overall the Superfly III fits true to size (I wear a 10 in adizero primes as well). The first few sessions' comfort was an issue due to the Teijen upper and Flywire so I wouldn't recommend playing a game in these right out of the box. After my third session the boots became more comfortable and in my first game I had no discomfort at all. Some fellow teammates suggested taking a shower in them so they mold to your feet a lot better, I didn't try it out but professionals use a similar method.

ProtectionThe thicker upper is a plus when it comes to protection, I got stepped on quite a few times but it didn't hurt as much as it would have with a pair of adizeros! Even though a thicker upper adds weight to a boot it is helpful going into a 50/50 ball challenge. For a speed boot the Superfly III offers good overall protection in all areas.

Durability

The Superfly III is very well constructed therefore durability should not be an issue. Using these on turf however could cause some stud damage, which has happened to some Superfly II users. The soleplate is very stiff due to the carbon fiber so it should be very durable and the materials used are very durable so these could easily last you a season or two but that's what you expect from a pair of $400 soccer boots.

Summary

The Superfly III is a good boot and are better than the Superfly II's. The softer upper decreases the break in period, the lower toe box offers more room for your toes along with a better first ball touch, and the new design makes them stand out on the pitch. If you are looking to upgrade from the last Superfly model don't hesitate, even though the changes are small they do help a lot when breaking these in! The negatives of the Superfly III are the break in period and the $400 price tag. Overall if you are looking for a speed boot that offers good protection, a snug fit, and great traction these are for you. If you prefer something much lighter than 7.8oz you can check out the adizero range.

Comments

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